This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
The Arizona Coyotes bid farewell to veteran center Antoine Vermette on Saturday, after nearly four seasons, dealing him to Chicago for prospect Klas Dahlbeck and a first-round pick in this year's draft. It's probably the first shoe to drop for the 'Yotes as they look to start rebuilding a team that overachieved the past few years and needs a more talented core to compete in the tough Western Conference.
Vermette is a highly versitle, if not star-calibre center, who will probably move into Chicago's top-six to replace the injured Patrick Kane. He has 35 points on the year, including 13 on the power play and surpassed the 20-goal plateau last year. He is known for being a strong faceoff guy – winning 56% of his draws this year, which ranks eighth in the NHL, and for taking tough minutes against the oppositions top lines. He led Coyotes' forwards in ice time and skated significant minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. The improvement in teammates alone improves his outlook.
Chicago gets, arguably, the best rental forward available as Vermette will be a free agent at year's end and is almost certain to reach the market. They replace Kane with someone who isn't as gifted offensively, but will contribute some offense and help tighten up their defensive play. For a team in Chicago's position (win-now) with a healthy system to draw from this trade is a reasonable, if somewhat stiff price to pay.
This is exactly the kind of trade Arizona needs to make more of as it approaches the trade deadline. In Dahlbeck, they get a 23 year-old defenseman who is having a solid season in the AHL and should be ready to contribute in the NHL almost right away. While the pick from the Hawks won't be high, this upcoming draft is being described as one of the deepest in some time and coupled with what is likely to be a high pick of their own the Coyotes can accelerate the acquisition of more young talent.
Finally, it's interesting that the Coyotes took back a defenseman in the deal. They clearly need top end talent up front, although they have Max Domi coming and their 2012 first round pick Henrik Samuelsson made his NHL debut this week. More importantly, their top two remaining assets rumoured to be on the block are both defenseman – Zbynek Michalek and Keith Yandle. Michalek is expected to go, although he is banged up with an upper body injury, which is rumoured to have held up a trade a couple of days ago. Yandle is the one who could really draw a big haul for Arizona if they deal him. Whatever his defensive shortcomings, defensemen with his offensive gifts are few and far between. He is one of just four defensemen with more than one 50-point season in the past five and is on pace to reach that level for a third time. Perhaps picking up Dahlbeck is an indication that one or both of these guys is headed out of the desert next.
Now, onto the preview of Sunday's games.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Los Angeles Kings (Jonathan Quick) at Winnipeg Jets (Michael Hutchinson), 4:00 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Florida Panthers (Al Montoya*), 5:00 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets (Sergei Bobrovsky) at Pittsburgh Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury), 5:00 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs (James Reimer) at Washington Capitals (Braden Holtby), 7:00 PM
Anaheim Ducks (Frederik Andersen) at Dallas Stars (Kari Lehtonen), 8:00 PM
St. Louis Blues (Jake Allen) at Vancouver Canucks (Eddie Lack), 9:30 PM
*Confirmed Starters
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Los Angeles Kings
Alec Martinez, D - Martinez (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. (2/26/2015)
Slava Voynov, D - Voynov's upcoming trial for domestic battery charges has been delayed one week, the Orange County Register reports. (2/26/2015)
Winnipeg Jets
Ben Chiarot, D - Chiarot, who underwent surgery on his left hand, is expected to be out for about six weeks, Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun reports. (2/23/2015)
Blake Wheeler, RW - Wheeler (knee) was a full participant in Saturday's practice and looks like he could be ready to play Sunday against the Kings, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports. "If Blake comes to the rink [Sunday] feeling the way he did [Saturday], he'll be in the lineup," coach Paul Maurice said after the practice. (2/28/2015)
Mathieu Perreault, C - Coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday that Perreault has been ruled out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, with the Jets fearing he could be lost for the season, Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun reports. The Jets have moved Perreault to injured reserve, according to Sara Orlesky of TSN. (2/18/2015)
Matt Halischuk, RW - Coach Paul Maurice indicated Wednesday that he expects Halischuk (lower body) to return to action in early March, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports. (2/18/2015)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Matt Carle, D - Coach Jon Cooper said Thursday that Carle (abdomen) is still at least two weeks away from a return, Bryan Burns of NHL.com reports. (2/26/2015)
Radko Gudas, D - Gudas (knee) is no longer using crutches, but is without a timetable for a return, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports. (2/18/2015)
Florida Panthers
Brandon Pirri, C - Pirri (upper body) has been cleared to play, Jameson C. Olive of FOX Sports reports. (2/27/2015)
Dave Bolland, C - Bolland (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Friday. (2/27/2015)
Willie Mitchell, D - Mitchell (upper body) won't be ready for Sunday's game against the Penguins, Harvey Fialkov of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. (2/22/2015)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Brandon Dubinsky, C - Coach Todd Richards announced Saturday that Dubinsky has a concussion and has been ruled out indefinitely, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch reports. (2/28/2015)
Jack Skille, RW - Skille will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery next week, the Blue Jackets' official site reports. (2/25/2015)
Jeremy Morin, LW - Morin (upper body) has resumed light skating work this week. (2/25/2015)
Kevin Connauton, D - Coach Todd Richards said after Saturday's morning skate that Connauton (foot) likely wouldn't play for another week, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch reports. (2/28/2015)
Matt Calvert, LW - Calvert (concussion) was placed on injured reserve by the Blue Jackets on Friday, Shawn Mitchell of The Columbus Dispatch reports. (2/27/2015)
Boone Jenner, LW - Coach Todd Richards said Wednesday that he doesn't expect Jenner (back) to resume practicing with the team next week. (2/25/2015)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Robert Scuderi, D - Scuderi (foot) participated in Saturday's practice, Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. (2/28/2015)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Nathan Horton, RW - Horton (back) was traded to the Maple Leafs on Thursday in exchange for David Clarkson. (2/26/2015)
Trevor Smith, C - Smith (lower body) could be ready to play Sunday against the Capitals, Mark Masters of TSN reports. (2/28/2015)
Washington Capitals
Nate Schmidt, D - Schmidt (shoulder) said his fracture has completely healed, but he still needs to strengthen the surrounding muscles, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (2/20/2015)
Anaheim Ducks
Nate Thompson, C - Thompson (lower body) remains day-to-day, but he will not play in Friday's game against the Kings, Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reports. (2/27/2015)
Matt Beleskey, LW - Beleskey (shoulder) is considered about a week to 10 days away from returning from injured reserve, Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reports. (2/27/2015)
Sami Vatanen, D - Vatanen (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. (2/17/2015)
Dallas Stars
Tyler Seguin, C - Seguin (knee) resumed light skating on his own after Saturday's practice. (2/28/2015)
Valeri Nichushkin, LW - Coach Lindy Ruff said Saturday that Nichushkin (hip) could be back in action with the Stars as soon as the middle of March, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports. (2/28/2015)
Patrick Eaves, RW - Eaves (concussion) is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Ducks, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports. (2/28/2015)
Travis Moen, LW - Coach Lindy Ruff said Moen (upper body) is not progressing from his injury as quickly as the Stars anticipated, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports. (2/28/2015)
Patrik Nemeth, D - Nemeth (arm) was reassigned to AHL Texas on Thursday. (2/19/2015)
St. Louis Blues
Kevin Shattenkirk, D - Shattenkirk (abdomen) is considered unlikely to return until late March, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. (2/27/2015)
Ian Cole, D - Cole (upper body) will not play Thursday against the Jets, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. (2/26/2015)
Vancouver Canucks
Chris Tanev, D - Tanev (head) returned to practice Saturday, Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun reports. (2/28/2015)
Frank Corrado, D - Corrado (upper body) was a full participant in Saturday's practice and suggested he would be ready to play Sunday against the Blues if needed, Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun reports. (2/28/2015)
Ryan Miller, G - General manager Jim Benning said Wednesday that Miller's MRI confirmed a sprained knee, which will keep him out for approximately 4-to-6 weeks, TSN 1040 AM reports. (2/25/2015)
Brad Richardson, C - Richardson (ankle) resumed skating back in Vancouver on Wednesday, Jeff Paterson of TSN 1040 AM reports. (2/25/2015)
Alex Burrows, RW - Burrows (lower body) is expected to miss Thursday's game against the Sabres, Jeff Paterson of TSN Radio 1040 reports. (2/25/2015)
Alexander Edler, D - Edler (upper body) resumed skating back in Vancouver on Wednesday, Jeff Paterson of TSN 1040 AM reports. (2/25/2015)
Hot
Evgeni Malkin, C – Malkin missed a few games with a groin injury at the end of January and had a slow stretch (for him) when he returned, but he has put those days behind him. The former MVP has consecutive three-point games and eight points in a four-game point streak. He is also plus-3 and has put 14 shots on net in that span. In short, a healthy Malkin is a superstar.
Tyson Barrie, D – Barrie has ripped off two three-point games (and seven points) in his past four games heading into Saturday night. His 39 points ranks 14th among defensemen and he has 10 points on the power play. Barrie probably hasn't reached the heights of guys like Subban, Karlsson, Letang, and Giordano in fantasy leagues, but he is putting himself into the second tier and will have his first 40-point season this year.
Cold
James Neal, RW – Neal's pointless streak ran itself to five games Saturday and he is an abysmal minus-4 in that span. While Neal has once again produced a 20-goal season, his 34 points is disappointing and it's easy to see how not playing next to Evgeny Malkin hurts him.
Kari Lehtonen, G – Lehtonen's roller coaster season is once again in free fall. Despite two nights off last week, he has given up at least three goals in his past three starts, including being the poor bugger who manned the net during a recent 7-6 loss to Detroit. While he managed to do enough to get Dallas into overtime in two of those three games before taking a loss (getting the Stars a point in the process), Lehtonen's poor play is poorly timed as the team tried to claw its way back into a playoff spot.
Recommended Pickup
Andrew Hammond, G – Normally, in this corner of the internet we are hesitant to recommend 27-year-old goalies who are third or lower on their team's depth chart, but an exception here for the man nicknamed "The Hamburgler." Hammond has the call in six straight games for the Sens and ripped off five consecutive wins, the last three coming in a sweep of the California teams (Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Jose in that order), which Ottawa had never done before in its history. Hammond's run may soon end with starter Craig Anderson close to a return, but for the moment he is the man and worth a look. Just keep an eye on your hamburger.
